Hi Barb & TUSKA team!
All TUSKA families feel indeed blessed to have you.
I have been talking to the families as I facilitated the food deliveries and there are two observations I have made that I would love to share with you:
- The families feel enormously blessed to have you send them the amazing food support they have continued to receive during these uncertain times. This is support that was never expected and they express heart felt joy and gratitude for it. They are all in agreement that, if TUSKA hasn’t come to their rescue during these harsh times, they would be in dire straits right now. They in return offer prayers to God, for Him to accord the entire TUSKA team utmost good health and well-being.
- The pandemic has brought the families closer to each other than at any other time in the past. They are willing to share the little they have with other families in need. I have also noted they value each other more highly no matter one’s social background. It is as if the pandemic has leveled all social barriers that previously existed. They are totally at ease with each other as they interact.
I completed food distribution to the families on Tuesday this week. The process was easier and smoother this time. I used the same model as in June. 40 of the families went to one collecting centre while the remaining twelve went to 5 centres closest to their homes. Most of the photos are attached to this email. (I would like you to note one of the guardians in crutches – a grandfather to one of our children. He insisted on coming to the collecting centre in person. He had fractured both his legs and hands in a past accident and they never healed properly due to poor medical attention. He walks with great difficulty. He is a Maasai, and he said a special prayer for TUSKA in his Maa language which I don’t understand. But he told me his age and culture empowers him to intervene with Enkai – God – to bless all people who perform kind acts on others with lots of cows – may be that was his prayer to Enkai for the TUSKA team!)
The times are very uncertain in the country right now owing to the opening up of 4 regions previously under lockdown as covid hotspots. The lockdown was lifted even as it became clear the pandemic was spreading very fast in those regions. We had about 60 deaths as of June 1 but that has deteriorated to 225 deaths by yesterday – a terrible rise within a period slightly over one month. We could be heading to another round of lockdowns soon. I have done what I could – and will continue doing so – to sensitise the families on the dangers of the disease as well as constantly reminding them to keep and stay safe.
May God bless you all and keep you far away from this pandemic.
Asante sana,
Peter Thairu